Today is an important day. Well, for most people it’s a day just like any other. But for me, it marks a milestone in my life. Today I’m turning 30. It’s weird because, as with any birthday that passes, I don’t feel different.

But I would be lying if I said that I’m excited to leave my twenties behind and officially enter the world of grown-ups. People tell me that you’re only as old as you feel, which is absolutely correct BUT, aging also brings along new worries and questions. Like settling down to one location, having babies, planning your retirement… All things I wouldn’t mind postponing for another decade to be honest.

Actually this week I had planned to share traditional German recipes, plant-based version of course, but… let’s just say that luck wasn’t on my side and that I’ll have to practice a bit before I can deliver something worthy of you guys.

If the traveller in your life is anything like me, they’d rather spend their money on actual travels and experiences than on gear, even though it could make their life so much easier.
That’s why I’ve gathered a list of things that I either have and love, or that I wish I had, to help you treat that cheap pragmatic & reasonable nomad. So, just in time for Christmas, here’s a few of the best gifts for travellers.

The day I decided to stop eating meat, I promised myself that I wouldn’t make this decision thoughtlessly and that I would do some in-depth research on all the different aspects of a vegetarian lifestyle. I wanted to do my part against the horrible treatment farm animals endure and act on my values, yet without risking my own health.

Back then, I had no one around to guide me towards the right choices. I had to learn everything on my own. Over the last two years, I’ve watched a lot of documentaries and read countless fascinating articles and books on the topic, all this in French, English, German… I found out that on top of saving animals, I’m now contributing to a healthier planet by drastically reducing my environmental footprint. I also discovered the multiple benefits of such a diet on my health, reducing my risk of cancer and improving the health of my arteries. I’ve tried new recipes, learned to love foods that I couldn’t stand before and acquired an insatiable curiosity for all things cooking-related…
…

When I walked into Café Frida, I immediately felt like I was in a café in Berlin, and I loved it.

I thought to myself “Finally someone dared to do something different.” Different from all the restaurants sprouting everywhere that keep milking the “urban concept” that only ends up looking super cheesy. Yes, I’m talking about you, Le Bureau de Poste…

Trois-Ri, you know I love you, we had great years together, but it’s time to innovate, it’s 2016. And that’s precisely what the team behind Café Frida has done. It’s the first vegetarian restaurant in Trois-Rivières. The owners also run another place called Éléphant, but I didn’t get the chance to go during my short stay.

Everytime I told anyone I was going to spend the Holidays in Norway, they had the same reaction: “Wow, you’ll see, it’s very expensive over there.”

I wish they had been wrong, but we quickly realized that the country has earned its reputation. Here’s a concrete example: in basically any café, two cappuccinos and two croissants will cost you CAD$20. If you’re European, that’s about €13. Yup… The Canadian dollar stings.

This shouldn’t keep you from visiting the Norvegian capital though. You just have to spend wisely to enjoy the city with a clear conscience!

If the traveller in your life is anything like me, they’d rather spend their money on actual travels and experiences than on gear, even though it could make their life so much easier.
That’s why I’ve gathered a list of things that I either have and love, or that I wish I had, to help you treat that cheap pragmatic & reasonable nomad. So, just in time for Christmas, here’s a few of the best gifts for travellers.

When I walked into Café Frida, I immediately felt like I was in a café in Berlin, and I loved it.

I thought to myself “Finally someone dared to do something different.” Different from all the restaurants sprouting everywhere that keep milking the “urban concept” that only ends up looking super cheesy. Yes, I’m talking about you, Le Bureau de Poste…

Trois-Ri, you know I love you, we had great years together, but it’s time to innovate, it’s 2016. And that’s precisely what the team behind Café Frida has done. It’s the first vegetarian restaurant in Trois-Rivières. The owners also run another place called Éléphant, but I didn’t get the chance to go during my short stay.

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Hi! I'm Aryane. Quite simply, I decided to start a travel & food blog because I was inspired by others. My ultimate goal is to pay that inspiration forward to you. Translator and language enthusiast, I've set out to see the world and share my findings. Oh, and I just so happen to love food. And thus Valises & Gourmandises was born.